Method of permanently straightening hair



Jan. 1, 1929.

J. MUSKETTv METHOD oF PERMANENTLY STRAIGHTENING HAIR 2 Sheets-SheetFiled March 20, 1928 WITNESSES INVENTOR Jam es Muske il,

A TTG-RNE Y Jan. l, 1929.

- J. MUsKET'r METHOD OF PERMANENTLY STRAIGHTENING HAIR Filed March 20,1928 2 Sleets-Sheet 2 EIS--5-' lNVENToR Jam es Maske?? 3 BY IK.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 192,9. i

UNITEDv STATES 1,697,132 PATENT omer..

JAMES MUSKETT, OF ATLANTIC C ITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOSEPH A. MUSKETT, OF ABSECON, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF PERMANENTLY STRAIG-IITENING HAIR.

Application led March 20, 1928. Serial No. 263,081.

My invention relates to straightening curly or kinky hair.

In treating hair to produce a so-called permanent Wave, it sometimeshappens that the result is not satisfactory but the hair cannot berewaved until it is straightened, and there are persons having kinkyhair who desire to have it straightened.

The object of this invention -is to provide a method of straighteninghair, regardless of Whether it is naturally or artificially curled orkinked.

The essential steps in the method are Securing the hair at the scalpend, treating it with a softening agent, stretching it, securing itsfree ends to an element fixed relatively to the securing element at thescalp end and applying heat. Preferably, after being stretched, the hairis Wrapped with an absorbent fabric soaked with the softening agent,this Wrapping surrounded by a heat insulating material, such asasbestos, to protect the hair from the direct action of the heat, andthe Wrapped hair inserted in an electric heating tube.

It will be understood that, preparatory to treatment, the hair isdivided into locks which can be conveniently handled.

'The method may be conveniently carried int-o effect in connection withapparatus used for so-called permanent Waving, and I have described andillustrated the method as used in connection With such apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through an electric heatingtube containing a post to which a lock of hair is secured and coveredwith Wrappings, a part of the Wrappings being broken away.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the post and hair shown in Figure -1 butWith the wrappings omitted,

Figure 3 a sectional plan view, taken on line 3-3 on Figure 1 but Withthe hair omit-- ted,

Figure 4 a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a method of attachinglonger hair to the post, and ,i

Figure 5 a View similar to Figure 2 but showing a shorter post andshorter hair attached thereto.

The device includes a post 10, a base 11 and an electric heating tube12. Base 11, which is secured to post 10 is provided on its undersideWith a heat insulator 13 for protecting 17 extending transverselythrough the post.

Heating tube 12 consists of an inner shell 18, an outer shell 19 and aheating element 20 disposed between the two shells. A cap 21, secured tothe upper end of outer shell 19, engages the upper end of inner shell 18and is provided With a sleeve 22 in Which the upper end of post 10 mayvbe secured by-a screw 23. 4 y

Each lock 24 of the hair is placed in a notch 15, With base 11 close tothe scalp, and clamped therein by closing gate 14, stretched suiicientlyto put it under tension and its free end led overand secured to a pin 16which is placed in that one of holes 17 Which is nearest the end of thehair. In stretching the hair, insulator 13 Will bear against the head.and gate 14 Will hold the hair against movement relatively to base 11 sothat there vis practically no strain on the scalp.

The time required for the treatment varies with the nature of the hairbut is rarely, if ever, less than tive minutes or over thirty minutes.

In Figure 4 I have shown a lock of long hair bent over a pin in theupper' part of post 10 and secured to a pin 25 in a lower part of thepost and in Figure 5 I have shown a lock of short hair which, instead ofbeing secured directly to a pin 16, has its free end tied and ismediately connected to the pin by a string.

The locks 24 are moistened with a softening agent, such as a solution ofboraX or other softener used in permanent Waving operations, Which maybe applied either before or after the hairl is secured to the post. Inorder that the hair may be thoroughly softened,

each lock and, incidentally, the post to which it is secured, arepreferably Wrapped With a strip 26 of absorbent material Which 'has beenimmersed in the softening solution. It

is also desirable that a second Wrapping 27l of asbestos tape be placedover strip 26 to protect the hair against the direct action of the heat.

Heating element 12 is nonr placed over post 10 andseated upon a corkgasket 29, resting on base 11, Which prevents the base from becomingexcessively hot. Screw 23 is then turned to clamp post 10 in sleeve 22and electric current supplied to the heating element. y

While I have illustrated and described certain apparatus for carrying myinvention into effect, it is to be understood that other apparatus maybe employed and the method adapted to t-he use thereof Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and, hence, I consider that I am atliberty to make such adaptations of the method as fairly come stretchingthe locks in a straight line, securing their free ends to an elementfixed relatively to the first securing element, Wrapping name2 the lockswith material carrying a softening agent, enclosing the Wrapped locks ina heating tube, and applying heat.

3. A method of straightening hair consisting in separating the hairintolocks, applying a softening agent, securing the scalp ends ofthe locksto a fixed element, stretching the locks in a straight line, securingtheir free ends to an element fixed relatively to the first securingelement, Wrapping the locks with material carrying a softening agent,enclosing the Wrapped locks in a heating tube, and applying heat.

' 4. A method of straightening hair consisting in separating the hairinto locks, securing the scalp ends of the locks to a fixed element,stretching the locks in a straight line, securing their free ends to anelement fixed relatively to the first securing element, Wrapping thelocks with material carrying a softening agent, surrounding the Wrappedlocks with heat insulating material, enclosing the Wrapped locks in aheating tube, and applying heat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

J AMES MUSKETT.

